This photo from the Rottie Empire Rescue organization shows two dogs the group hopes someone will adopt. Smokey, left, is an older dog who survived abuse, and the group is trying not to separate her from her longtime companion after the sudden death of their owner. (Photo from Rottie Empire Rescue) less

This photo from the Rottie Empire Rescue organization shows two dogs the group hopes someone will adopt. Smokey, left, is an older dog who survived abuse, and the group is trying not to separate her from her ... more

His parents live in Florida and were unable to adopt his two dogs, Smokey, 10, and Misty, 4½.

They turned to Saratoga Springs-based Rottie Empire Rescue to find someone who could take both dogs. They did not want them separated.

Annmarie Guglielmo of Gansevoort agreed to foster the dogs. They have their own room in her house and are adjusting well, seeking affection regularly. Guglielmo was chosen because she has a quiet home for the dogs to transition in and had previous experience with Rottweilers, Erhartic said.

"She had no other animals, no kids," she said. "It was a nice place for them."

Two applicants, one local and one in New Jersey, have applied to keep the dogs permanently.

"Both applications are to keep them together," Erhartic said.

The two possible new owners will be evaluated over the next seven to 10 days, she said, and the hope is the dogs will be in a new home before Christmas.

The local applicant is meeting the dogs this Saturday, while a home visit to the other potential owner is being planned by a contact the group has in New Jersey.

The rescue group received an outpouring of support when the news first broke of the dogs' plight.

"I probably had, like, 70 voicemails. I talked to 40 people," Erhartic said. Another 100 wrote emails, while an equal number posted to the group's Facebook page.

"The response has definitely been overwhelming," she said. "We got calls and emails and applications from California. They were everywhere."